iPad will not connect at Denver airport (DIAFREEWIFI)

Question

iPad will not connect at Denver airport (DIAFREEWIFI)

Just got my iPad and this is my first time through the Denver airport with it. I'm finding that the iPad will not connect to the DIAFREEWIFI access point (the one I'm connected to right now with my Macbook). I can connect to this access point with my iPod, my Android G1, and my Macbook. However the iPad refuses to connect simply returning an "Unable to join the network" message. Signal strength is 2 out of 3 bars, I've tried this from both the A and B terminals. I can't believe I'm the first one to try joining this network with an iPad so there has to be something up. I've tried:

- Power off the iPad and restart
- Select "reset network settings"

I can join any of the various other wifi networks here (Den-ipass as well as the various airline, lounge networks). Unfortunately, you need a subscription to use those so joining is not much good.

I have the latest iTunes (9.2) and the iPad is version 3.2.

Is there anything else I can try? Taking this to an Apple store seems like a waste of time since they won't be able to reproduce this problem unless they're at the Denver airport.

Any help would be appreciated!

Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jun 18, 2010 7:39 PM

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Answer 1

w7ox

Level 4

2,407 points

Jun 18, 2010 7:42 PM in response to atatistcheff99

Have you tried the approach in this message?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2466458&tstart=0

Phil

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Answer 2

maxpeck1

Level 1

0 points

Jun 18, 2010 7:45 PM in response to atatistcheff99

I just got back from Denver and had the same issues despite trying several of your attempts to connect.

Chuck

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Answer 3

Jun 18, 2010 7:50 PM in response to w7ox

Thanks for the reply. Just tried this, still the same - can't connect.

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Answer 4

sefarkas

Level 1

0 points

Aug 1, 2010 4:35 PM in response to atatistcheff99

Still doesn't work, windows XP works fine.
hello denver!!

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Answer 5

Mr. SPX

Level 1

20 points

Aug 1, 2010 7:21 PM in response to sefarkas

There does seem to be an iPad issue at DIA, but I think that the issue is more widespread than that. I was at DIA in mid-July for my second time in 30 days, and this time, I had my Windows laptop with me as well. Neither my iPad nor Windows 7 laptop were able to connect to the free wifi network.

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Answer 6

iJustKJ

Level 1

9 points

Aug 4, 2010 11:20 AM in response to atatistcheff99

I am at DIA today and am having the same problem. I have connected my iPad to almost every WIFI network I have encountered and it has worked fine. Here i get "Unable to join the network'DIAFREEWIFI'".

I called DIAFREEWIFI tech support line and they told me it was an Apple software issue. I know that is not the case, but it is what they tell people. My MacBookPro and Blackberry have no problems connecting.

My guess is they can not force the advertising pane to the top of the iPad's browser window, so they simply block iPads.

I would love to know the real reason and how to fix it.

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Answer 7

Aug 4, 2010 1:13 PM in response to iJustKJ

I would say that it IS an Ipad issue. I had the same difficulties connecting with my Ipad to diafreewifi at Denver airport on 2 trips in late July about 2 weeks apart - last time was last thursday. On this second trip both my iphone 3g and my laptop (a 3 year old fujitsu)detected and connected to the diafreewifi network without problems. The ipad kept connecting and disconnecting. After 2 or 3 times it simply stopped even detecting the diafreewifi network even though the other 2 devices were having no problems.
There is some comaptibility issue here. I have seen the same thing with some but not all other networks while travelling in the last few weeks.

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Answer 8

Thrplms

Level 1

0 points

Aug 4, 2010 1:27 PM in response to atatistcheff99

In Denver airport on Aug 2. iPad would not connect to the free wifi, although the iPhone connected just fine. One of my frustrations with this kind of situation is that the Ipad gives me no ability to troubleshoot. It just says not able to connect and that's it.

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Answer 9

Aug 9, 2010 4:49 AM in response to Thrplms

I am now at DEN, in the AA lounge in concourse A. I am connected to DIAFreeWIFI. I connect almost every Monday at this time.

The connection ais a a little strange, but it is on the server side, not the iPad side. The steps are:

1) Go to settings to make sure you are connected to the free wifi and not one of the couple of subscription services available here.
2) Go to Safari and enter any search item. Doesn't matter what you search on, just do a search.
3) A splash screen will appear asking you to agree to terms, which includes watching 30 secs of advertising
4) Hit the continue button, followed by the connect button and you are on.

This is the same login sequence I have encountered at several hotels. On a pc the splash screen comes up automatically wig IE, but not with Safari. I think it has to do with IE sending out abpage request for the homepage (which for me happens to be google) and Safari not automatically going to a home page (at least I don't have it set to do so, I am not even sure you can set a home page)

Be warned, the free wifi is painfully slow. My 3G iPhone is faster than my wifi iPad here.

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Answer 10

Sep 27, 2010 9:00 PM in response to WiterHawk

I can't connect to the network at all is there some trick to it

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Answer 11

Thrplms

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2011 10:40 AM in response to atatistcheff99

I was just in Denver last week. I could not get my Ipad to connect at all. In previous trips I have managed to connect, but the connection would work only for short periods, then drop. Iphone and Windows work fine. The problem is specific to the Ipad. I tried all fixes posted earlier, none worked.

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Answer 12

Feb 5, 2011 7:51 AM in response to atatistcheff99

This only seems to happen in Denver, probably due to the Meru Firmware not liking the constant changes apple seems to engage in building a better mousetrap.

Disable wireless on the device and power cycle it. When it comes back up go to the settings and select the DIAFREEWIFI SSID and enable wireless connectivity. This will sometimes cause the device to finally accept the IP address assigned for the DIAFREEWIFI SSID, but sometimes it doesn't.

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Answer 13

Feb 5, 2011 10:24 AM in response to FreeFi Guy

I should quantify, we see it more often at Denver but again the resolution can be:

Disable wireless on the device and power cycle it. When it comes back up go to the settings and select the DIAFREEWIFI SSID and enable wireless connectivity. This will sometimes cause the device to finally accept the IP address assigned for the DIAFREEWIFI SSID, but sometimes it doesn't.

I am traveling through Denver and oakland on Monday and will try Ipad and iphone log-ins at both airports

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Answer 14

aeneas07

Level 1

5 points

Feb 7, 2011 5:43 PM in response to atatistcheff99

It seems to me that this could be an access point issue.
Today I was at b49, connected with my iPad no problems. Flight was moved to b36 and I couldn't connect. Tried all the tips in the thread to no avail. Fired up my iPhone and that could not connect either at the new gate. I don't know what would be the cause of it though, full bars in both places.

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Answer 15

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,185 points

Feb 7, 2011 6:10 PM in response to aeneas07

DIA's free Wi-Fi is horrible about connectivity.

I've had problems connecting from iOS devices as well as Mac OS X, Linux and Windows laptops.

In short, it's not your iPad, it's their network.

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